Film drier



Jan. 24, 15% J. T. TRIMBLE 2,495,612

FILM DRIER Filed Sept. 2, 1947 F56! FIG. 2

I I L N J. TQTRIMBLE Patented Jan. 24, 1950 ITED STATESPATJENT OFFICEFILM DRIER Joe T. Trimble, Tulsa, Okla.

Application September 2, 1947, Serial No."771,65-8

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in him dryers, and moreparticularly to a dryer of simple, inexpensive and practicalconstruction, designed for the rapid drying of photographic film in adentists office or clinic.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a casing with aninternal partition defining a steam-lined passageway through which air,preferably heated, is circulated for the drying of film suspended in thecasing.

Another object is to provide a device of this character comprising traysof reticulated material designed to support any suitable absorbent toabsorb the moisture from the circulating air.

A still further object is to provide a device of this characterincluding a heating lamp, circulating fan and time switch, all arrangedin a common circuit, whereby after a predetermined period of time, thefan will be halted and the lamp will be extinguished by operation of thetime switch.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view whichwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in thenovel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims:

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved dryer with the doors in openposition, and diagrammatically illustrating the electric circuit for thefan, lamp, and switches.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially broken away, to show one of thereticulated trays.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 4 designates a casing having a vertical rearwall 5, side walls 6 and hinged doors 1 which close the front of thecasing. The top 8 and bottom 9 is each preferably of semi-cylindricalshape, and as a vertical partition Ill is arranged in the casing midwaybetween and parallel to the side walls 6, a streamlined passageway isprovided within the casing. A horizontal perforated partition H ismounted in the casing at the top of and to one side of the partition l0,and it supports any suitable type of electric fan l2. At the oppositeside of the partition ill, means are provided for the support of film13. Such means may consist of horizontal rods l4 projecting forwardlyfrom the rear wall 5 of the casing.

Below the partition H, I arrange a second horizontal partition l5 whichis slottedto slidably accommodate perioratedtrays l6 adapted to supportany suitable absorbent agent which will remove moisture from thecirculating air. When one of the doors 1 is open, these trays may beremoved for replenishing or revivifying the absorloent.

A source of heat, such as an infra-red electric bulb :1 is preferablyarranged within the top 8 so as to heat the .air as it circulates.

For the purpose of controlling the fan and heat bulb, a conventionaltime switch in may be secured to the front of the bottom 9 of thecasing, and the .ian motor, heat bulb and the time switch are allarranged a circuit l9 having a source of electricity supply Zll, and amanuallly controlled switch 2 I In operation, it may be understood thatwhen one of the doors I is open, film may be suspended on the rods M,and then if the door is closed and the time switch 18 is set for apredetermined period of time, and the switch 25 is closed, the fan willcirculate the air and the heat bulb will warm the same. As moisture isextracted from the film, it will be absorbed by the absorbent in thetrays H5. At the expiration of the time period, the switch l8 willautomatically open the circuit and then the dried film may be removed.

In time, the absorbent becomes saturated and it may be replaced orrevivified.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodimentof the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understoodby those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in thedetails disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, asexpressed in the following claims:

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A film drier comprising a vertically disposed approximatelyrectangular casing body having parallel rectangular side walls andparallel front and rear walls, each of the front and rear walls being ofsubstantially oval shape, a substantially semi-cylindrical top andbottom for the casing, a substantially vertical partition arranged inthe casing parallel to and about midway between the side walls anddefining with the casing a substantially oval-shaped passageway, meansin the passageway for supporting film, means in the passageway forforcing air to circulate therethrough, perforated trays supported in thepassageway for receiving a moisture absorbing agent, and a door forminga part of one of the walls.

passageway for forcing air to circulate therethrough, removable means inthe passageway for supporting moisture absorbing material, and

doors forming part of the front wall and hingedly connected to the sidewalls.

3. A film drier comprising a vertically disposed approximatelyrectangular casing body having parallel rectangular side walls andparallel front and rear walls, each of the front and rear walls being ofsubstantially oval shape, a substantially semi-cylindrical top andbottom for the casing, a substantially vertical partition arranged inthe casing parallel to and about midway between the side walls anddefining with the casing a substantially oval-shaped passageway, meansin the passageway for supporting film, means in the passage- Way forforcing air to circulate therethrough, a heating element connected toone of said semicylindrical parts and arranged in said passageway, ahorizontal partition arranged across the passageway having slotstherein, perforated trays slldable in the slots of the horizontalpartition, and doors in one of said walls.

4. A film drier comprising a vertically disposed approximatelyrectangular casing body having parallel rectangular side walls andparallel front and rear walls, each of the front and rear walls being ofsubstantially oval shape, a substantially semi-cylindrical top andbottom for the casing, a substantially vertical partition arranged inthe casing parallel to and about midway between the side walls anddefining with the casing a substantially oval-shaped passageway, meansin the passageway for supporting film, means in the passageway forforcing air to circulate therethrough,

moisture absorbent supporting means arranged with said passageway, and adoor forming a part of the front wall to provide access to the filmsupporting means. 1

5. A film drier comprising a closed casing in-' cluding a verticallydisposed approximately rec- 3 tangular body having parallel rectangularside walls and parallel front and rear walls, each of the front and rearwalls being of substantially oval shape, a substantiallysemi-cylindrical top and bottom for the body, a substantially verticalpartition arranged within the casing parallel to and about midwaybetween the side walls and defining with the casing a substantiallyoval-shaped passageway, means in said passageway at one side of thepartition for supporting film, a horizontal partition in the passagewayat the opposite side of said partition, a driven fan arranged in thepassageway and supported by the horizontal partition for circulating airthrough the passageway, moisture absorbent supporting means arrangedwithin the passageway, a heating element in the passageway for heatingthe circulating air, and hinged doors forming part of the front wall topermit access to the film supporting means and moisture absorbent means.

JOE T. TRIMBLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,150,609 Marette Aug. 17, 19151,295,259 Beebee Feb. 25, 1919 1,534,499 Braemer Apr. 21, 1925 1,661,551Apfel Mar. 6, 1928 1,886,286 Martin Nov. 1, 1932 2,064,965 Will Dec. 221936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 547,651 France Sept. 28, 192750,169 France May 22, 1933

